Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) shoots a three-point basket as Milwaukee Bucks' Monta Ellis (11) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Photo: Jim Prisching, Associated Press

Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) shoots a three-point...

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Golden State Warriors' Jarrett Jack, front left, drives to the basket around Milwaukee Bucks' Ekpe Udoh during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Photo: Jim Prisching, Associated Press

Golden State Warriors' Jarrett Jack, front left, drives to the...

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Golden State Warriors new center Andrew Bogut remains on the bench, while heeling a injury during their NBA basketball game with the Dallas Mavericks Thursday, April 12, 2012, in Oakland, Calif.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Golden State Warriors new center Andrew Bogut remains on the bench,...

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The Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) walks toward the bench as former teammate Monta Ellis celebrates his three-pointer late in the fourth quarter for the Bucks.

Photo: Jim Prisching, Associated Press

The Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) walks toward the bench as former...

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Milwaukee Bucks' Monta Ellis (11) dunks the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Milwaukee Bucks' Larry Sanders (8) tries to block the shot of Golden State Warriors' David Lee (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Photo: Jim Prisching, Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks' Larry Sanders (8) tries to block the shot of...

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Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he made a free throw in the final minute of their victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Oracle Arena on January 23, 2013 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after he made...

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Golden State Warriors' Carl Landry (7) shoots over the Milwaukee Bucks' Larry Sanders during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Photo: Jim Prisching, Associated Press

Golden State Warriors' Carl Landry (7) shoots over the Milwaukee...

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Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon Jennings (3) looks to pass as he is hit in the face by Golden State Warriors' David Lee (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Milwaukee. The Bucks defeated the Warriors 109-102. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

Photo: Jim Prisching, Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks' Brandon Jennings (3) looks to pass as he is hit in...

There were a number of intriguing story lines during the Warriors' 109-102 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday night at the Bradley Center, but head coach Mark Jackson was interested in talking about only one thing.

"We've got to get back to who we are," Jackson said. "We're not rebounding at the same level, and it's hurting us. It's costing us ballgames, and we've got to find a way to get it back."

The Warriors got outrebounded 58-50 by the Bucks and outscored 27-13 on second-chance points just one night after Chicago won the battle of the boards 56-37 and scored 30 second-chance points.

"When you allow a team to dominate you on the boards and get second-chance points, it sucks the life out of your defense," Jackson said. "If we rebound the ball and make a couple of plays, it's a different story."

So Jackson didn't walk to talk about the emotions of the Warriors' first game in Milwaukee since Monta Ellis was shipped here in a five-player deal just before last season's trade deadline.

He wasn't interested in comparing the teams' dynamic backcourts, which provided huge swings in the game.

Stephen Curry had 20 of his 26 points in the first half to go along with seven assists, and Klay Thompson added 19 points for the Warriors. The Bucks' Brandon Jennings had 18 of his 20 points in the third quarter to go along with six rebounds and seven assists, and Ellis had 20 points, including one of the game's biggest buckets.

Jackson wasn't even interested in talking about the Warriors' comeback attempt. They outscored the Bucks in three of the four quarters, but got beat 35-19 in the third.

Milwaukee used the third quarter to build its lead to as many as 13 points and still held a 94-82 edge with 7:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Jarrett Jack's three-pointer with 52.9 seconds left, however, trimmed the deficit to 100-98.

As he had done so many times for Golden State, Ellis calmly milked the clock and then stepped back to bury a three-pointer with 32.7 seconds left that gave Milwaukee a 103-98 lead. He then shot a steely look at the Warriors' bench.

Jackson was asked about the play three different ways during his postgame news conference. His answer was the same each time: "Good defense." "Good defense." "Good defense."

The Bucks (23-19) moved to 7-3 since Jim Boylan took over for coach Scott Skiles on Jan. 8. They got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Ersan Ilyasova and 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots from Larry Sanders.

Sanders extended his streak with at least one blocked shot to 29 games, tying San Antonio's Tim Duncan for the league's longest active streak. It's the longest stretch by a Bucks player since Andrew Bogut had a 39-game run during the 2009-10 season.

The Warriors (26-17), who have lost seven of their past 11 games, got only 12 points on 6-of-18 shooting from David Lee. Jack had 13 points and 10 assists off the bench, and Carl Landry added 13 points and 14 rebounds for Golden State, which is two games into a stretch during which it plays eight of 10 on the road.

Of course, Jackson seems dead set on focusing on one area from now until Monday's game at Toronto.

"It takes so much out of you when you've got to defend 48 seconds instead of 24 seconds," he said. "Too many second-chance points. It really hurt us and cost us the ballgame."